Thierry Neuville plays in the snow with the upcoming Hyundai i30 N

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Hyundai i30 N in final development phase; undergoes winter testing

by Eric Tipan

March 17, 2017 09:42

If a high-performance vehicle is what you seek as your daily drive, you may want to wait a few more months before making your final decision as Hyundai is set to launch a model that will compete with the likes of the Focus RS and the Golf GTI.

Already in the final phase of development, the Hyundai i30 N is the Korean automaker’s first-ever high-performance model and they aren’t leaving any stone unturned. A camouflaged unit has been sent to Arjeplog, Sweden, along the edge of the Arctic Circle, and is being tested to the hilt by FIA World Rally Championship driver Thierry Neuville.

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The Hyundai i30 N is set to be launched in the second half of 2017 and will draw on the automaker’s motorsport experience and its fast-growing expertise in high-performance road vehicle development to offer a model that will can be fun to drive on and off the track.

“So many people have been looking forward to this car, so it’s a pleasure for me to be testing it. The engineers have done a good job on the gearbox and the differential. There is good traction and stability in the slippery testing conditions and it’s very easy to handle. A normal driver should get a sensation similar to a race car,” said Thierry Neuville.